Charles Major
When Knighthood Was in Flower
or, the Love Story of Charles Brandon and Mary Tudor the King's Sister, and Happening in the Reign of His August Majesty King Henry the Eighth
"When Knighthood Was in Flower" by Charles Major is a historical romance novel published in 1898. Set during the Tudor dynasty, it tells the story of Mary Tudor, younger sister of King Henry VIII, who falls in love with a commoner. When the king arranges her marriage to King Louis XII of France for political reasons, Mary faces an impossible choice between her heart and her duty to the crown. This bestselling debut novel sparked widespread interest in historical fiction and inspired numerous stage and film adaptations.